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If I ever found myself with a puppy again (which is highly doubtful) I’d make socialization my number one priority. We got Laika when she was about 6 months old and when we started taking her around other dogs she was already exhibiting reactivity issues; it’s improved but it’s made me realize how important that stage around 2-4 months is with meeting new dogs & people. I’d normally say potty training as well but I guess that’s a given – and given enough attention & going out every hour for the first week it’s never been hard for us to train. But boy does that first week get tiring.

Yes, socialization is so important. I want to get a puppy at some point but I’m kind of nervous I’ll make socialization mistakes! I guess we all make mistakes. We just do the best we can. I got Ace when he was 12 months old and he’s not really fazed by anything.

Pierson was already about a year old when I brought him home. The first thing I did was teach him his name and try to get him to come when called. Crate training did not work out at all. He was fine the first night, but probably because he was so scared. But by the second night, he wanted out so badly that he actually broke out. It cost me over $800 when his nose wouldn’t stop bleeding and I had to take him to the emergency vet. He had so much anxiety about being locked up in a crate that I decided not to crate train him. Potty training was easy. I only caught him trying to go in the house one time. I made a loud noise and yelled “No!” very loudly and took him outside. He never tried to go potty in the house again. I can only assume he had already been potty trained. Next, I started teaching him basic commands and household rules. I also began working on socialization. Socialization went fine in some cases but not in others. Over time, he actually got worse when it came to other dogs but better when it came to other people.

My list is the same as yours! I am all about calmness in the house. On a side note, I once found a foster dog standing on my coffee table. It was actually really sad. Here was a 2 year old dog who did not even know the concept of a table. She just looked confused. I showed her how to get down and she never did it again.

This list is basically mine for any dog over 6 months old. While I would use the same key aspects for a real puppy (8 weeks to 16), like potty, crate and prevention, the approach is a lot different (no long walks and exercise first or at all, different way of encouraging foundational good behaviors, etc.) And, of course, socialization and building healthy responses to everyday life plays a big part in everything you do.

I guess that this is a great starting topic for the first-time dog owner. I thinks the priority order for a new dog to the home could vary depending on the circumstances. If possible for the dog to access an enclosed area (like a fenced yard) for potty from our living section (like the living room), I would get a dog door and train the dog to go outside for potty; this will save us time from the need of cleaning the carpet or floor. Thanks for this helpful topic.

1. Long walk right away and lots of exercise every day. —
Well, we got our new puppy possibly to soon. Five weeks old. After a visit to the Vet the next day, we were told no walks till AFTER he got all his shots. He got his first set on that visit and then his second set May 14th, 2015. Doesn’t get his 3rd set until June 18th. Needless to say I disobeyed the Vet and started walking him after the 2nd set of shots. However, the walks were not all that long. Just around the corner to the park and back.

2. Potty training — This one is a nightmare!! I don’t remember having this much trouble house breaking my previous dog. Course she was older when we got her — and she was female. Our ‘new’ puppy is just now as old as our previous dog when we got her…. 15 weeks. So we have had him for 10 weeks. He can sit, come when called… most of the time, shake hands and some other minor things. Where I have failed is in the potty training. We have a doggie door -AND- he has learned how to use it. But only for pooing. He no longer poos in the house -BUT- he will pee in the house — sometimes right before an open door!! -BUT- he will go out the doggie door and do both… sometimes.?!.? Just can’t understand — and no I will not use a crate. Never have and never will. The dog is part of the family not a caged animal. Some of you are probably saying, “Well tuff then … suffer.” 🙂

3. Kennel/crate training — As stated above … don’t believe in them.

4. Basic rules — These will be interesting.
Dogs sit before I put their leashes on them. They don’t barge through doors. — Started out ok at the age of 11-12 weeks. Best time was at 13 and half weeks. Now at 15 weeks he does NOT want his harness on anymore. He even started scratching and chewing at the collar. It is always on for ID. As for barging out the door … he doesn’t. I tell him wait — and he does. He just does NOT like being restricted… via the leash. No sure what to do about it -or- IF it is just his age. Is there a “terrible two” similarity at some weeks age???

I expect a calm household. Very little playing, wrestling or running indoors. — Calm is a little tuff. As stated elsewhere, we got him to early. Five weeks old. Didn’t get to play with this litter mates -but- our less than 1 year old cat made up for them. So, we do not necessarily have a calm household. They actually play together — wrestle and the dog has had the cats whole head in his mouth. Cat comes back for more and starts as many tussles as the dog does.

No chasing cats. — see above.

No begging while I eat. Dogs sit before eating. No charging the food bowl. — I agree and I am working on this one.

I begin teaching the dog his name if he doesn’t know it. Saying it and giving food and attention. —
Dakotah, yes with an ‘h’, knows his name. Does not always respond but he is only 15 weeks. I say only at this -BUT- I am expecting more. Probably to much. My crazy varied schedule because of work -and- doctor’s appointments does not make my time with him consistent.

Have you considered using an ex pen? An ex pen would give your pup the freedom to play, chew, sleep, whatever but he would not have free rein in your house. They are wonderful tools both inside & outside.

As for the leash, is he being reactive or just trying to pull your arm off? The harness- is it the harness or is he itching at other times? He may be going through his fear period. I suggest that you do a little research on this & how to handle your pup during this period so that things go smoothly in the future.

It is unfortunate that he wasn’t kept with his mother for at least 8 weeks. it is a crucial learning period & he may have some behavior issues because of it. However, it’s not anything you can’t work through.

I can’t tell you what a great article this is. We have 2 dogs, both rescues (and 3 cats, rescues) and have been fostering for a year. Our group goes to kill shelters in SC & GA and rescues from deplorable conditions. The horror stories we have heard in the last year! To me, this is a very significant point: “I do not feel sorry for a dog recently sprung from a kill shelter. He made it out; he is one of the lucky ones.” We are dealing at present with a pup so severely traumatized it would be easy to say “poor baby” and not try to train her. Thanks for spelling out where I need to begin.

Somethings beyond the basics (potty training/name recognition):
= sit and wait on both going into and out of the house is important.
= come when called.
I have the first one down as Elly will sit and wait before we go out and when we get out the door (I give her a treat before we leave on a walk). Otherwise you get a dog pulling you thru the door which isn’t safe when we get in the dark and/or snow/ice conditions.
The second is generally good but she has such a strong prey drive that she will not always come when called when she is in “terrier mode”. For those of you with terriers, you know what I mean.

Most people will probably say come, or leave it, but at our house, it is stay. Since the puppy needs to be in photos fro day one, stay is super important and Madison is learning that quite well along with other basic commands.

Coco is pretty calm in the house,but when we get company she gets over excited she likes to get a lot of attention from visitors sometimes I have to send her to her room for a couple of minutes so she can calm down than I call her to come out and she is calm. She than greets the visitors nicely instead of jumping on them.

Like you, I start with household management. However, the most important thing I teach a new dog is to pay attention to me. I use classical conditioning for this. Once I have him paying attention to me, teaching him anything else is simple.

I’m nursing a swollen face, mouth, and knee after being pulled abruptly to the blacktop by my wonderful, energetic, friendly, very strong Golden retriever that I didn’t for. I’ve had bilateral knee replacements so slightly disadvantaged from the get go. I had no warning and this could have been much worse. He’s done it before…but I landed on snowbanks. Vet recommended shock collar training with local trainer. Don’t think I can manage this loveable boy without further training. He’s been to obedience training. He’s two. I LOVE this dog. Today, as I ice my body, I’m rethinking my career path.

I just got 2 yorkie puppies, litter mates. They play together all the time but sometimes it gets a little rough and they go from sounding like cute puppies to vicious little creatures. I tried distracting them with toys and separating them but it’s as if they they hold the grudge until they meet again because they go right back at it. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

We adopted a senior chocolate lab this summer. Thankfully, he came leash-trained, potty-trained, trained to not counter-surf, or to be overly excited about food. He is very sweet and this pre-training made him a breeze to integrate into our family.

One thing we did try to teach him from day one was to not go in certain rooms (i.e. bathrooms where cleaning supplies / over the counter meds could be dangerous if he were to get into them, my husband’s office where important papers may be, etc). When we got to one of those doorways in the home and he started to cross the doorway I just stomped my foot on the ground once to draw attention to it and calmly said “ah!” to let him know not to come in. When he would sit down and wait I would praise him / pet him. He figured it it within a day or so and would just sit at that doorway and watch me from the doorway if the door was open. Super glad we taught him this. I plan to do this with future dogs too!

For the record, he still has plenty of room to move around and be free even with those few rooms restricted. 🙂

I love your articles. It’s like an online class for dog care. I am a dog sitter and I stay booked. I meet all kinds of dogs and parents. I took early childhood Ed but decided I liked fur kids better. I am great with dogs and have a good record of getting good behavior out of them. Some pet parents do not like the idea of crate time. They think it is cruel. I find those pets the most out of control. Sometimes your posts reinforce why I do what I do and help me shake off the doubt that maybe I could be wrong in my methods. I do my homework. I like to know I am being the best I can be. I have cared for dogs, children, and the elderly for many years. Somehow all of those combined together have helped in having pet clients. Keep those articles coming! You are amazing!